The Secure America Act: New Funding for Immigration Enforcement
Immigration Policy Update
The Secure America Act provides $69.5 billion in funding for immigration- and border enforcement-related activities, all to be spent by September 30, 2029. The bill, however, does not require DHS, ICE, or CBP to allocate or spend any of the money in any given year. This means the government can decide how quickly, or how slowly, to spend it. In addition, there are no limitations on whether the agencies can request more funds in the future through the regular government funding process.
Key Provisions
- Provides $69.5 billion in funding for immigration and border enforcement activities through September 30, 2029.
- No mandatory spending timeline — the government can decide how quickly or slowly to allocate funds.
- Agencies can request additional funds in the future through the regular government funding process.
The bill includes a substantial focus on enforcement against states and localities that do not participate in federal immigration enforcement. For example, it specifically allocates $350 million for ICE enforcement operations in cities and states that do not participate in 287(g) agreements, which authorizes certain local law enforcement officers to make immigration arrests and carry out other federal immigration enforcement functions; or for ICE operations in states that DHS claims have violated federal statutes that limit restrictions on communication with the federal authorities about an individual's immigration or citizenship status.
Funding Breakdown
- $38 billion to ICE to expand arrests, detention, deportation operations, and partnerships with state and local police.
- $26 billion to CBP to hire agents, expand surveillance, and increase enforcement at and between ports of entry.
- $5 billion to the Department of Homeland Security to support deportation and detention work related to this bill or in collaboration with local authorities under last year's reconciliation bill.